Compare and Contrast Role of Skirmishers, Pickets and Flankers

[SpartanGSG]

Very interesting topic of discussion and curiosity also seen on another board. Please compare and contrast employment of a skirmish line and a picket line. Beyond the obvious positioning assigned to flankers how and when are they best employed, is it providing protection for a column of troops rapidly approaching a battlefield with the expectation of iminent threat and just before deployment of the column into line of battle? Are not the function of flankers a variation of those functions of skirmishers and pickets? Look forward to your comments.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by SpartanGSG

Very interesting topic of discussion and curiosity also seen on another board. Please compare and contrast employment of a skirmish line and a picket line. Beyond the obvious positioning assigned to flankers how and when are they best employed, is it providing protection for a column of troops rapidly approaching a battlefield with the expectation of iminent threat and just before deployment of the column into line of battle? Are not the function of flankers a variation of those functions of skirmishers and pickets? Look forward to your comments.

Interesting question. I'd say pickets were the most forward of troops, beyond that, I have no idea.

[gary]

A skirmish line helps to "feel" out the enemy, drive in their opposing pickets or skirmishers and dominate the terrain such that their parent unit may move into a position of advantage. A picket line is stationary guard line when one needs an early warning of an approach from the enemy's direction. Flankers are somewhat like pickets & skirmishers in that they are mobile like a skirmisher and guard against approaches like a picket. Sharpshooters are generally elite light infantry who sometimes serve as a skirmish line, but often time even precede the skirmish line to drive in the enemy's skirmish line until resistence is met and they are joined by their own skirmishers or to delay the advance of the enemy's skirmish line such that their parent unit has more time to prepare.

(Now, for the self-promotion if I haven't destroyed my own credibility by now, some of this will be in Chapter 7 of my own book on the blackpowder sharpshooter.)

[samgrant]

So, would it be correct to say that:

the pickets were the most forward (mostly defensive?) units, to be the alert to enemy actions.

That skirmishers were 'offensive' units used to drive away any enemy pickets, in prelude to an advance.

And that Flankers may be considered, as in the sporting term, as those set out as to cover the flanks (or the lateral extent of the enemy forces).

?

[gary]

No, pickets weren't the "most" forward early-warning system. They were guards when neither army contemplated movement against the other (or so they anticipated). As sentinnels, Pickets were posted to warn of an impending attack. They could engage in sharpshooting against their opposing pickets but were not to bring about a general engagement. Often times pickets became friendly with one another and bartered (coffee for tobacco or newspapers).

Skirmishers were used when there was a battle (think mobile when an army is advancing against another). Much like a picket, they are mobile and advancing either to develop the enemy or to delay the approach.

So, a soldier could be on picket duty and then told that the unit is moving out and to begin skirmishing as part of the skirmishing force (in reality, they would be relieved by fresh troops to do the skirmishing). It all depends on what is going on at that moment in the battelfield.

Flankers were used when a unit was on the march to prevent a surprise attack from the flank that they were guarding.